Water softener



1,626 055 April, 26 1927 v. 1.,. TANNEHILL f WATER SOFTENER Filed Aug. 9, 1926 I/'fz-JMJJL; Tanna/5d] @www Patented l Apr. 26, 19.27. p

UNITED STATES 1,626,055 PATENT OFFICE.

VERNON L. TANNEHILIJ, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO FORT WAYNE ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING C0., OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

WATER SOFTENER.

Application led August `1926. Serial No. 128,085.

This invention relates to watersofteners. Objects of this invention are to provide a water softener which employs zeolites or similar material for softening the Water, and in which provision is made for regeneration of the zeolite after it has served its urpose during one period pf operation so t at the apparatus can be used continuously with a simple addition of ordinary chemicals, such as common salt, for instance.

Most particularly, objects of this invention are to rovide a water softening apparatus in willich a novel mode of washing the zeolite and the interior of the softener isprovided so that all portions of the yunused salt or other foreign materials may be easily and ei'ectively extracted and carried to the .discharge pipe.

Further objects are to provide I a waterl softening apparatus in which the washing is accomplished by causing the water to flow throu h the zeolite first in one direction and then 1n the other direction, so that the z eo-l lite is most thoroughly freed from all unused salt or other foreign material.

Further objects are to provide a novel form of water softener which may be readily installed without requiring any valves located at its lower portion, but which may be mounted directly upon a vase with the valves and the pipe in relatively elevatedposition.

An embodiment of the invention is shownin the accompanying drawings in which:

The single igure is a sectional view through the water softener showing -the pipe connections and vshowing by the three systems of arrows the several paths followed by the water. v

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the water softener comprises a vertical tank 1 tion, which is provided with a top 2 efuipped with a removable ca 3 held in p ace by means of a clamp 4. he bottom of the tank is closed by a cup-shaped base portion 5 which is provided with a central member 6. This member is symmetrical aboutfthe axis of. the tank and forms a sharp, upwardly directed cusp located exactly upon the axis of the tank, as illustrated in the lower sectional portion of the drawing.

Immediately above this cusp or pointed central'bottom member 6, the dared-mouth 7 of a pipe 8 is positioned. This pipe leads preferably of cylindrical construccentrally upwardly and passes outwardly, as

screen or similar member 12. The zeolite is positioned upon this screen `12 and is indicated by the reference character 13. This zeolite 'does not completely fill the tank 1, but stops approximately at the point indicated by the reference character 14.

kThe pipe comprises a main su ply pipe 15 leading from the water supply and a main outlet or delivery pipe 16,'an an 'exhaust pipe or discharge pipe 17. The pipe 15 communicates with a pair of pipes 18 and 19 controlled by valves 20 and 21. The pipe 18 extends to the pipe 9 and also to the discharge pipe 17, communication with the discharge pipe 17 being controlled by the z valve 22. The discharge pipe 17 is connected with the pipe 1.9 and with the pipe 16 by means of the pipe,` 23,- such latter pipel being controlled by the valve 24. It is to be noted also that afpipe' 25 4leads upwardly ,from the -pipe 19 and* enters the up er portion of the tank 1. \-'Further, it is to he noted Vthat a test valve 26 communicates with the delivery pipe 16.

In using the apparatus the water normally passes, as shown by vthe heavy arrows, through the ,pipe 15, past the valve 20, through the pipe 8,l downwardly below the zeolite, and is deflected uniformly by the pointed central member 6, and its direction reversed by the curved bottom portion of the tank so that it flows upwardly through the tank ina very uniform and even manner through the zeolite. It passes from the upper portionof the tank by \way of the pipe 25 to the delivery pipe 16. This is the normal o eration of the apparatus'and the normal direction of How of the water.

When it is desired to regenerate the zeolite, the cap 3 is removed and salt or a salt solution is placed within the tank 1 through its upper opening, the sup ly of water bein cut off from the tank uring this operation and, preferably, the delivery pi e also bein closed by means of thevalve 2 A ter this salt has acted uponthe zeolite for approximately twenty minutes, the valve 21 is opened, the valve 20 being referably closed during the insertion o the salt. The water now Hows, as indicated by the light full line 'arrows past the valve 21, Y

up the pipe 25, into the upper portion of the tank, and downwardly through the zeolite. This downward flowing stream of wa-` ter sweeps all of the unused salt and the excess salt solution into the funnel-like portion 7 of the pipe 8, due to the cup shape contour of the bottom of the tank, and due to the shape of the member 6. This excess material and the lowing stream of water passes upwardly through the pipe 8,

. through the pipe 9, and past the open valve l -member 6, and the curved bottom portion 23, the valve 24 of the tank. The water thus passes uni- ,ormly upwardly through the zeolites and causes such zeolites to boil or stir, thus` freeing any excess salt or salt solution or foreign matter, and this material passes outwardly through the' pipe 25 to the pipe eing open and thus passing to the discharge pipe 17.

Testing of the water is easily secured by opening the test valve 26, when desired.

After this operation has continued the requisite length of time, the valve 24 is closed and the valve 27 is opened. The water now passes through the valve 20, through the pipes 18, 9 and 8, to the lower portion of the apparatus. It passes upwardly through the zeolites discharging throughthe pipe 25 to the delivery pipe 16.

It will be seen that a novel form of water 4 sottener'has been provided.in which a most thorough cleansing of the zeolite is secured with consequent assurance of absolute freedom from any excess salt, salt solution,I or from any foreign material.

Further, it will be seen that this inveiition provides for a double direction of flow of the washing water and insures the correct agitation of the zeolite for its most effective use.

It will be seen further that the device may be mounted directly upon a base, as

may be very simply and economically made,

and will be effective in operation.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as theinvention may'be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim:

1. A water softener comprisinr a casing having a bed of zeolites spaced from its bottom a deflector located centrally at the bottom of the casing below the zeolites and having a cusp-like contour, a pipe leading laterally into said. casing and passing downwardly centrally thereof and adapted to discharge water over the point 0f said cusp-like member, whereby said water is uniformly distributed across` the bottom of said zeolites and may pass upwardly therethrough, a discharge pipe leading lfrom the upper portion of said casing, means foicontrollin and reversing the flow of water tliroug said casina', and means for introducing salt into said casing.

2. A water softener comprising a cylindrical casing having a cup-like bottom portion provided with a cus -like central niember, a pipe leading latera ly into said casing and extendin axially downwardly therethrough and discharging directly .over said cusp-like member, said casing' having a bed of zeolites supported above its bottoni pori tion, a discharge pipe leading from the'upper portion of said casing, a removable cap carried by said casing, piping connecting said pipes with a delivery pipe, a-Waste ipe and a supply pipe, and valves control ing the direction of flow of water through said casing, whereby said Water may be caused to flow first in one direction and then in the other during washing of the zeolites. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana.

V. L. TANNEHILL. 

